Portable wardrobe.



E. N. JOHNSON.

PORTABLE WARDROBE.

APPLIOATION FILED NOV.21, 1011.

1,048,701. Patented De0.31,1912.

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B. N. JOHNSON.

PORTABLE WARDROBE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 21, 1911. 1,048,701. Patented Dec.31, 1912.

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E. N. JOHNSON.

- PORTABLE WARDROBE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV.21. 1911.7

Patented Dec. 31, 1912. I

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ELTON N. JOHNSON, OF HORNELL, NEW YORK.

PORTABLE WARDROBE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 31, 1912.

Application filed November 21, 1911. Serial No. 661,504.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ELTON N. JOHNSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Hornell, in the county of Steuben and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Portable iVardrobes, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to wardrobes and more particularly to portable wardrobes.

One of the objects of the invention is the provision of a simple and efficient device of this character which may be folded into compact form so as to be convenient for transportation or storage and which may be readily set up in operative position.

Another object of the invention is to provide a wardrobe of this character wherein the bottom of the wardrobe is adapted to act in the capacity of a receptacle and the top of the wardrobe adapted to act as a lid for the receptacle when the parts are folded therein.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a device of this character having collapsible supporting members and fabric wall together with means for connecting the fabric to the door of the wardrobe in such a manner that when the door is open the fabric will be placed under tension and will act as a spring to throw the door to closed position when released.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a wardrobe of this character having fabric walls, means to attach one edge of the fabric to the door in such a manner that when the door is open the fabric will be placed under tension and will act as a spring to close the door and with means to attach the opposite end of the fabric so that it may be wound up to take up any slack therein.

Further objects of this invention will appear as the following specific description is read in connection with the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this application, and in which Figure l is a front elevation. Fig. 2 is a perspective view with the fabric walls removed. Fig. 3 is a vertical section through the same. Fig. 1 is a horizontal section through the device looking downwardly. Fig. 5 is a similar section looking upwardly. Fig. 6 is an elevation of the door and fabric roller with part of the fabric broken away. Fig. 7 is a plan view of the device with the lid or top raised and with the supporting standards folded therein. Fig. 8 is a detail sectional view through the door. Fig. 9 is a similar sectional view through the roller. Fig. 10 is a detail elevation of the roller.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, 1 represents a base or floor which has secured to it the skirting strips 2 forming sides and ends of the receptacle 3 which is supported upon legs 4 either removable or permanently connected to the receptacle. This receptacle is closed by means of a lid or cover 5 which has connected to it two leaves of a pair of hinges 6, the other two leaves of said pair being secured to the upper edge of the skirting strip. The separate leaves of each hinge are removably connected together by sliding the top or cover longitudinally of the receptacle.

Hinged at one end of the receptacle to the base 1 is a pair of legs or supporting standards 7 which are in sections 8 and 9 connected together by the hinges 10. The upper sections are provided with longitudinally extending pins 11 which engage the apertures in the cover or top 5. At the opposite end of the receptacle, similar legs 12 are hinged to blocks 13 secured to the base 1 adjacent opposite corners of the receptacle. These legs are also provided with pins 11 which engage apertures in the top or cover 5. \Vhen the cover is in position upon the legs or standards, suitable braces 14 connect the bottom portion of the legs with screw eyes 15 secured to the underneath side of the top and similar braces 16 connect with said screw eyes and with the legs 7 and 12 in the rear of the cabinet. The braces consist of four links 17 connected together by a ring 18 and having upper members thereof provided with eyes 19 to engage the screw hooks in the top and the lower members provided with hooks 20 to engage headed studs 21 carried adjacent the lower end of the legs. Interposed between the top and the upper edge of the forward skirting strip is a jamb piece 22 formed in separate sections, hinged together as at 23 and held in alinement by an arm 24 pivoted to the upper section and slotted at its free end to engage a headed stud 25 carried by the lower section. This jamb member is provided with extension fingers 26 which removably engage in staples 27 on the inner side of the forward skirting strip. They are also provided with longitudilnilly extending pins 28 which engage the holes 29 formed in the skirting strip and in the depending flange 30 which is carried by the cover 5 and which registers with the skirting strip 2.

The door comprises upper and lower frame sections 31 and 32 which are provided with pivoting pintles 34 which enter the apertures 35 formed in the skirting piece and in the flange 30 of the cover 5. The free edge of the door sections are provided with grooves 36. These grooves are adapt ed to receive a retaining rod or rods 37 which are passed through the hem in the end edge of the fabric 38. Suitable means are provided for securing the edge of the fabric 38 with its attached rod 37 in position in the grooves 36 said means as herein shown comprising screws 39. The opposite end of the fabric is provided with a hem 40 in which a pair of rods 41 are placed which are adapted to seat in grooves 42 and lie in the separate sections 43 and 44 of a fabric roller 45. The sections are connected together by a tube 46 which is secured to the lower section 43 and in which the upper section is seated, its end abutting the lower section. In the grooves 42 are screws 47 which are adapted to engage over the rods after the same have been placed in the grooves. This roller is provided with pin tles 48 and 49, the former engaging the aperture formed in the bottom 1 and the latter engaging an aperture formed in the spring 50 carried by the top 5. By rotating the roller, the fabric is wound up thereon and is tightening around the legs and on the door. In order to hold the roller in operated position, a ratchet wheel 51 is secured to the end of the lower section 43 and is engaged by a locking pawl. 54 pivoted on the bottom 1. It will be noticed that the joint in the jamb and the joint between the sections of the door are arranged in line with each other so that the door may be folded and the jamb folded so as to be conveniently placed in the receptacle 3.

What is claimed is 1. In a portable wardrobe, the combination with a knock-down frame, of a door comprising separate sections hinged together and pivoted on the frame, a sectional. jainb carried by the frame, a fabric extending around outside the frame and inside the door and connected to the free edge of the door at one end, a roller mounted in the frame and comprising separate sections removably connected together, means for connecting the opposite end of the fabric to the roller, and ratchet mechanism for holding the roller in rotated position.

2. In a portable wardrobe, the combination with a skeleton frame, of a door frame hinged thereto, and a fabric extending around the frame and connected at one end thereto and at its opposite end to the door, said fabric extending behind the door and adapted to be placed under tension by the door when the latter is open so as to form a spring for closing the door.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ELTON N. JOHNSON.

lVitnesses O. M. \WHITING, LE ROY SMITH.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C." 

